FIRST CATCH THE RABBIT!
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather together as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We cannot gather together as usual for the Eucharist. But we are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: “Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least,” wrote Johann von Goethe. The Liturgy today reminds us to get our priorities right, to put God and spiritual matters in first place.
We pray that we may always put God first, and respond to his invitation to the wedding feast.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have refused this invitation, we ask his pardon.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God’s kingdom:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd, leading us to everlasting life:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you will come in glory with salvation for your people:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: God of goodness and kindness,
you invite all peoples to the banquet
and offer them a feast beyond compare.
Give us your saving grace
to keep unstained the robe of our baptism
until that day when you welcome us
to heaven’s joyful table.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 Isaiah 25:6-10a
Psalm Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Response I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Reading 2 Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts,
so that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.
Gospel Matthew 22:1-14
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine listening to Jesus as he tells the chief priests and elders the parable of the wedding feast. What are your thoughts and feelings when you hear about the responses of the invitees?
Sunday Snippets
A nineteenth-century recipe for rabbit pie begins with the injunction: “First catch the rabbit.” The writer knew how to put first things first. That’s what we do when we establish priorities.
That’s precisely what the guests in this Sunday’s gospel parable did not do!
It was Jewish custom to send out invitations and to prepare food according to the number who accepted (like the modern RSVP!). When the meal was ready, the host would send servants to summon the invitees. In the parable, the king sent servants twice to summon the guests, but they “made light of it” and went about their business. They refused to honour the invitation they had earlier accepted.
The Jews had accepted God’s invitation on Mount Sinai. They looked forward to the coming of the Messiah about which Isaiah prophesied (first reading): “This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice.” But when the Lord came and invited them to his banquet, they refused to honour the invitation.
It’s important to note the reasons for their refusal: they “went away, one to his farm, another to his business.” They were busy with the urgent: their livelihood.
But the wedding feast represents the messianic kingdom; it represents the important: salvation, eternal life.
The guests got their priorities wrong: they left the important for the urgent; they gave up life for livelihood.
We have accepted God’s invitation at our Baptism. When we choose the urgent over the important, we are refusing to honour the invitation.
In the second part of the parable, a guest is thrown out because he is without a wedding garment! According to Jewish custom, the host would give the guests a wedding garment; all they had to do was to wear it.
We, who have accepted the invitation, are called wear the wedding garment: a life of justice, honesty, compassion, kindness, and love.
How do I respond to the Lord’s invitation to his banquet: do I have my priorities in order; or am I so engrossed in gathering the other ingredients for “rabbit pie” that I forget to “catch the rabbit”?
Do I to wear the wedding garment?
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: God “will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations.” What are the “webs” over all nations today? Do I believe that God will destroy them, in his time? What is my role?
Reading 2: Do I know how to accept and live in all circumstances? When difficulties arise in daily life, do I say with/like St Paul: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me”?
Gospel: How do I respond to God’s invitation to his wedding feast? Are my personal concerns and wants more important than God’s invitation? Besides answering his invitation to the feast, what is expected of me?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: Let us recommend to the Lord those we meet at the crossroads of life, that they too may hear and accept the invitation of the Lord, as we pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may radiate joy and hope, and bring a feast of happiness to others, we pray…
R: For the world: that all people – especially in Palestine-Israel, Ukraine-Russia, and Manipur – may experience peace that heals wounds, that guarantees safety, that lives in our hearts and homes, we pray…
R: For those who are marginalized and on the peripheries: that they may obtain their rights and God may help us to understand their pain, we pray…
R: For all who are recovering from sickness and disasters: that God may give them hope and stir the hearts of many to assist them in their time of need, we pray…
R: For a healing of the earth: that we may show concern for the environment, bring an end to the exploitation of scarce resources, and live as responsible stewards of creation God, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that we may put God first in our lives, which manifest a wedding garment of deeds of justice and acts of charity, we pray…
L: God our Father, deliver us from our apathy, our easy excuses and pretexts that keep us from accepting your invitation to follow your Son, who is Lord for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
Lord,
wipe away the tears from our eyes.
Take away the web of destructive chaos that hides you from us.
You have prepared a banquet for us.
You set a table,
killed the fattened calf,
and gave us the finest wine.
You invite us to come to this table of plenty.
You want us to be a family,
to be like guests at a wedding party,
happy to be together.
But sometimes we are not interested;
we prefer to go off to our farms or to our businesses.
Help us to realize
the significance of the invitation,
and respond to it whole-heartedly.
All that you ask of us
is to wear the wedding garment.
At this feast,
may we share ourselves,
and relate selflessly with the others.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: Lord, God our Father,
Make us rejoice with you
and welcome all with open arms,
people from everywhere, from all nations,
the poor and the rich,
the weak and the strong.
Make all accept your invitation,
that we may rejoice with all.
Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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